Innocence | Severus Snape x Reader

19 - Return to Hogwarts

For the rest of the summer, I lived with Severus.

Only once did I send a letter to my mother and I simply told her that I still loved her and one day I would come back to help her, but that day would not be soon.

Severus and I spent every day together. We woke up together, I'd make a simple breakfast, we'd go out if the day was nice enough to Diagon Alley or other places. Some days we spent inside reading or he'd teach me a trick or two about magic. We both chose to skip out on lunches, and for dinners we'd alternate who cooked. When we went to bed we always laid close together with at least an arm or hand touching.

Severus wanted to wait until we got into anything more intimate than just that when it came to sleeping. He never told me why though, but I respected his wishes.

On July 28th we received a letter, which Severus never got any if it wasn't from me.

It read:

Dear Severus and Y/N,

I am writing in regards to the upcoming term at Hogwarts. Severus, you of course will be returning to teach as potions master, but I do make a request for you.

If you would please take Y/N to the ministry and present this note to the proper person of authority so Y/N can receive a temporary teachings license for Hogwarts. She is well suited for the job I require of her this year.

Since we have been able to find no proper teacher for the subject this year, I am having Rubeus Hagrid teach the Care of Magical Creatures class this year. However, Hagrid does not have an official teaching license and if a situation present itself he is not allowed to use magic. I would like to have Ms L/N to assist him this year in teaching in order to avoid any mishaps.

Truly yours, Albus Dumbledore.

The letter was signed off with the Hogwarts seal.

Initially, I had no idea how Dumbledore would have even known I was in the same household as Severus, let alone chose me for the task.

Of course, Severus and I did as the letter instructed and after a full day of waiting and moving about the Ministry I finally got my temporary license for this year.

Severus then took me to Diagon Alley to shop for more teacher-appropriate clothing, however we didn't fin much that suited my outside my normal style, as a compromise I bought some more formal clothes that still matched my style.

The news of the Azkaban escapist Sirius Black got out, who killed seven people on behalf of You-Know-Who, supposedly. When Severus saw this news he seemed slightly bothered by this. 

Now it was July 31st and we were both packing for the trip back to Hogwarts.

"Are you sure we have to apparate to get to the school, Severus?" I said as I used magic to neatly pack my bag that had an extension charm on it.

"It's the quickest and easiest way to get to the school without intermingling with the students. Besides, teachers are required to get there at least three hours before the students."

I heard him close his suitcase, which was more of a large case, and click it closed. I did the same and pulled it off the bed. I trailed behind Severus out of the door and locked it behind the both of us.

"Here, grab my arm." He told me when we got outside.

"What if I want to do it on my own?" I retaliated slightly.

"You're inexperienced with it, I don't want anything going wrong."

"Well perhaps we should contact Dumbledore and tell him I'm not suited for the job if I apparently cant even apparate properly." I noticed a scowl cross his face, and not his usual resting scowl that even with me he still held, but a truly agitated scowl.

"Its your choice." He told me. I held my case with both hands and turned to him, separating right after.

I landed outside of the school, on the courtyard. It wasn't exactly the best locating but I had managed to do it properly and still got to the desired location.

Now outside of Severus' reach I walked into the school on my own. I imagined the first place I should go was to Dumbledore's office.

I turned down the empty hall and started walking in the direction of the staircases, which would get me to his office.

As I was walking through the hall I heard other footsteps approaching me from the direction I was going.

From as I rounded a corner I saw Professor McGonagal doing the same as we nearly collided. We both scared each other and jumped a bit.

"Heavens! Is that you Ms L/N?" She asked me.

"Yes, it is Professor." I smiled at her. "Its good to see you again."

"Its good to see you too dear, but I have to ask, why are you here?" She asked curiously.

"Professor Dumbledore asked me to help Hagrid teach this year," I explained to her.

"He told me he had an idea about how to solve that problem but I would have never thought it was you."

"Neither would I Professor, but I'm here. In fact I'm headed to go see him right now."

"Oh, well good luck dear. I'll see you at the feast I presume?"

"Of course." I gave her another kind-hearted smile before we both continued on our ways.

I made my way up to Dumbledore's office and muttered the new password "Lemon Drop", which allowed the staircase to come up.

I came in and walked into he office, seeing Dumbledore at his desk. Upon hearing me enter he looked up, seeming pleased.

"Oh Ms L/N, how wonderful to see you've made it." He said softly.

"Thank you, Professor, it feels good to be back under some different circumstances." I walked towards his desk and set my case down by my feet as I stood at his desk. "I had a few questions though, mainly about where I would be staying when I'm not performing my duties?"

"We've made a small room for you in the dungeons, it's quite small, unlike most of the Professors chambers, but I made sure it was in a place you'd be most comfortable and familiar with." He set down his quill and fully sat up to look at me as we spoke, folding his hands on the desk. "Any other questions?"

"Um yes, one actually. I've been wondering how it is you knew I was with Severus?"

"Oh the answer to that is quite simple, see your mother had alerted the ministry after you ran off but of course they could do nothing for her since you're an adult now, but alas they contacted me in hopes I might've known where you had gone. It was a wild guess, really, but it seems I was correct." He gave me a smile that had a hint of mischief to it. Had Dumbledore known about Severus and I's more intimate relationship?

"I see, do you know how she is? My mother?" I asked, with some concern. Despite all that's happened with her I still loved her.

"Last I know she's perfectly safe and sound."

"Thank you, Professor. I'll be on my way now." I bowed my head before leaving as a way of waving. I picked up my case and walked out of the office.